Final countdown! As the hours leading up to the 2015 Oscars quickly tick away, anticipation is growing for all of the gowns and speeches and tears we’re sure to see come Sunday, Feb. 22. Who will be the best dressed, the most emotional? Will anyone pull a J.Law and trip going up the stairs?
Time will tell, but here, in no particular order, are eight things we hope to see on the red carpet and during the show.
1. A Neil Patrick Harris Song-and-Dance Number
NPH is the ultimate triple threat, and one of his greatest assets as an awards show host is his musical prowess. (Case in point: his surprise number in the middle of the 2013 Emmys, appropriately titled “The Number in the Middle of the Show.”) The man has a Tony, so expectations are high, but we’re pretty confident he can live up to the hype. Go big or go home, right?
2. A Benedict Cumberbatch Photobomb
The Sherlock star and Imitation Game nominee is a photobombing pro — he leapt into the background of a pic of U2 at the 2014 Academy Awards, and then crashed Meryl Streep‘s pic with Margaret Cho (in character as a North Korean general) at the 2015 Golden Globes. Where will he pop up next?
3. A Butt Grab
Booty, booty, booty, booty everywhere! Jennifer Aniston couldn’t keep her hands off of Kate Hudson‘s sculpted derriere when they crossed paths at the Golden Globes in January. “I’m sorry, I had to do it!” she quipped after grabbing her pal’s butt on camera. Cheeky!
4. Jennifer Aniston Not in Black
Speaking of the Cake actress, while she obviously looks great in everything she wears, we’d love to see her in something other than her go-to black. Remember how fab she looked in that scarlet Valentino gown at the 2013 Oscars? We do! She may not be nominated this year — for shame! — but that doesn’t mean she can’t kill it on the red carpet.
5. Lupita Nyong’o and Jared Leto Getting Their Flirt On
After their flirty streak during last year’s award season, followed by their swoon-worthy appearance as co-presenters at the 2015 SAGs, the 2014 Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor Oscar winners are everyone’s favorite imaginary couple. We’re just waiting for the day when that obvious spark between them turns into a full-on romantic fire. (For the record, they’re both currently single — we think!)
6. A Previously Unknown Breakout Hunk (Like Cary Fukunaga at the Emmys!)
We’re excited to see Cumberbatch and Bradley Cooper and all the other usual men in tuxes, of course, but it’s always nice to have someone new in the mix. (We’re looking at you, Cary!)
7. A Moment of Selfie Proportions
By far the most talked-about moment at last year’s Oscars was host Ellen DeGeneres‘ epic selfie with Cooper, Nyong’o, Jennifer Lawrence, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Julia Roberts, Kevin Spacey, and Meryl Streep (among others). We’re not saying NPH should try to replicate the photo — just the viral effect it had online. (If Kim Kardashian can break the internet, why not Harris?)
If only Bradley’s arm was longer. Best photo ever. #oscars pic.twitter.com/C9U5NOtGap
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) March 3, 2014
8. An In Memoriam Worthy of Robin Williams and Joan Rivers
We’ve said goodbye to a lot of great talent since the last Oscars, but the collective grief over the deaths of Williams (in August) and Rivers (in September) was unmatched. We can only hope they — and everyone else we’ve lost in the last 12 months — get the goodbye they deserve.
